This sequel to The Giver has much the same heart, and I’m glad I decided to re-read it.

First off, Kira was an inspiring character. I loved how she let the pain of her disability feed her strength instead of making her bitter. Her times working with Annabella among the plants or mending the robe were beautiful to read about. (Makes me want to take up embroidering, though I think my natural talents most likely lie elsewhere.) Between this book and its prequel, I’ve noticed an unusual value placed on the experience and knowledge of the elderly, and I think that’s something very special we need more of in books. Kira’s motherly friendship with Matt was sweet and hilarious, and I liked how she and Thomas got along.

I really liked the unique way of describing talents--something a bit mysterious that grows with age and does things on its own without the artist quite knowing how it happened. Some of the ideas (the arts being chained, instruction squelching creativity) were a little classic agenda-ish, but there were many others I loved. A specific piece of art special to its creator, art made for yourself and others, and the power of art to change lives and maybe even the world. The ending was a bit open, but I liked how it highlighted Kira’s hard choice between safety and comfort and using her gifts to brighten the world. Such a real choice.

The main thing that took stars off for me was the setting/culture. I found it revolting from the very first page with its lack of morality, no familial attachments, dishonoring burial methods, and just a general atmosphere of scrabbling and squabbling. It wasn’t fun to read about, but it did lend even more importance to Kira’s art.

Oh, wow, there were things I had forgotten! I started to remember throughout the book who was lying, but that plot twist had me gawking. O.o. :D

All the references to dear Jonas and his village were just amazing. <3

Just a note, in addition to the harsh culture, there were some poisonings, one of a child by its mother, and some descriptions of violence including a mention of a suicide. A rude word is used in the proper context of human excrement used for making dyes. Also, there is a cross in the story, and its symbolism has been lost, so the people of the village worship it instead of the One who died on it and rose again.

Altogether, I enjoyed another jaunt into this storyworld and was inspired by the main character. ;)

This book, like its predecessor, has a lot to offer. The character development is excellent, with Kira evolving and growing throughout the story. The exploration of themes such as art, talent, and the power of choice is thought-provoking. While the setting and culture may be off-putting to some, they serve to enhance the story and make Kira’s journey all the more meaningful. The references to Jonas and his village add an extra layer of depth and connection to the overall series. Despite its flaws, this is a book that I would recommend to fans of The Giver and those who enjoy dystopian literature with a heart.

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry is a book that has left me in a bit of a quandary. Throughout my reading, I've been trying to figure out exactly how I feel about it, and I'm still not entirely sure.
This review is also posted on my blog.

It seems clear that if I had read this book at a younger age, I probably would have enjoyed it more by default. However, there were aspects that made it a bit of a flip-flop for me. In the end, it earned a four-star rating.

One of the things that困惑 me was its connection to The Giver. I struggled to find the link throughout the book. The only thing I could come up with was that it's a different community in the same dystopian country, and the village Matt finds and Kira's father found a home in is the same as the one Jonas found at the end of the first book. But other than that, there doesn't seem to be any significant connection, and I'm still rather confused.

On the other hand, this could potentially be a very clever move. Making that mysterious 'other village' the only connecting factor could lead to something big in later books. Even if it doesn't, having it link the different stories together creates a compelling narrative in its own right.

There were other things as well. The language, wording, and ways of speaking seemed very awkward, even in the more educated dialogue. But this was likely intentional. Many things were not directly explained, such as the suspicious timing of Annabella's death, the lie of beasts in the forest, Jamison's intentions, the cruelty towards the children in the community building, how the system could be upheld in a society based on negative traits, why the regular citizens lived in squalor, the importance of the yearly history reminder, and why the children's gifts were so crucial that their parents were killed to obtain them. However, the lack of direct explanation seemed intentional, making the reader come up with their own conjectures and form their own thoughts, just like the characters desired.

When I think about it this way, it becomes clear that this is a brilliantly written book. The roles of art and disability, along with everything else, would have made it a new favorite for me if only I could have connected with it. I read through the book quickly, not because I was overly enjoying it, but because it was an easy read. I couldn't read many pages at a time because it just wasn't doing much for me, and I found more of it to be awkward than enjoyable.

Kira's father still being alive was a bit of a surprise. Most other things were quite predictable, but not that one. Overall, it's a shame that this book didn't seem to find a place in my heart. I can still see how well it was done and objectively look at the story and plot as a whole, which I'm glad for. But the things that felt 'off', mostly the dialogue, were a hurdle that my enjoyment couldn't overcome. At least I'm only docking one star for it. Truly, this is such a great book, and I'm very curious to see what the last two books in the series have in store.

Gathering Blue is an improbable follow-up to The Giver, Lois Lowry's renowned dystopian work. It seems unlikely as it has virtually no connection to its predecessor, and I'm truly uncertain as to why it was penned in the first place.

Similar to The Giver, Gathering Blue is also a dystopian novel. However, you might be hard-pressed to believe that the dystopian world in this novel is even less developed than that of The Giver. Essentially, the story is set in a village at an unspecified time. In this village, those who are unable to work and contribute to society are put to death. The main character, Kira, is handicapped with a twisted leg. She was safeguarded from being killed by her mother, who has just passed away. The Village Council decides to let Kira remain in the village because she is a talented weaver. They assign her an important task - repairing the illustrations embroidered on a robe that depicts the history of the society. This robe is worn by a Singer who performs at a day-long Ruin Song Gathering, singing about the past.

Perhaps the most glaring flaw of Gathering Blue is the dearth of details, even more so than in The Giver. We fail to establish a connection with Kira's village as we know so little about it. The political and social structure of the village is scarcely sketched, and it is even more unimaginative than that of The Giver. The plot feels forced to the point of being absurd. The significance of the paintings that Kira repairs is never fully elucidated. And, like The Giver, the book concludes with a cliffhanger - with a twist that would make M. Night Shyamalan wince. But to reach that point, you'll have to endure an unimaginative book that progresses at a snail's pace, with events that we couldn't care less about and characters that we don't feel any affinity for. I simply cannot fathom how it could capture the attention of younger readers, let alone hold it.

I've just discovered that Gathering Blue is a "companion" book to The Giver, not a sequel. This could perhaps partly explain the complete lack of links between the two. Which brings me to the question - what was the exact purpose of writing it? Maybe I'll uncover an answer in the subsequent volumes of this saga. But if they maintain this level of quality, I'm not sure if I'm eager to read them.

Going into this book, being aware that it is the companion to The Giver, didn't offer me any advantages. The issue is that The Giver is just so incredibly good that any so-called "companion" is bound to fall short. And that's precisely what occurred.

One of the problems is that there isn't a great deal happening. Kira guides us through a plethora of information regarding weaving/sewing, threads, dyes, plants, and so on. I truly anticipated something more significant to emerge from this. Some sort of explanation for her existence. But no, there wasn't any. You do get the sense that there is a lot more going on (such as with the Council) than what Kira is aware of, but we never really get to learn about that either.

This book was rather predictable. Part of this might be attributed to the connections between M. Night Shyamalan's The Village and this book. Due to this, we already had a hunch that the Council had a dirty secret, that there were no actual beasts, and that there were other, better communities elsewhere.

I read someone else's review that made a valid point: in The Giver, we are connected to the community because of Jonas. Since we are invested in how wonderful it is, we experience real unease and betrayal when we discover the truths behind the community. However, since Kira is an outcast and has always been treated poorly, we don't really feel any pain at the loss of what we thought was home. This was something that Lowrey did superbly in The Giver but failed to manage in Gathering Blue.

Nonetheless, it was still a good book. I persisted with it, eager to find out what would happen in the end. And I will eventually desire to read The Messenger. But I'm not in any rush. If possible, I would have given this book 2.5 stars.

Gathering Blue is truly a remarkable addition to The Giver.

In this futuristic community, rather than progressing with technology as in The Giver, they have regressed and are perilously close to reverting to a savage state. Kira, a girl born with a twisted leg, faced being cast out into the field. However, her recently widowed mother was resolute and determined to keep her.

As Kira grew, she became accustomed to the taunts and hardships she had to endure. But soon, her mother fell seriously ill and passed away.

Kira was slated to be sent to the field, yet due to her highly advanced weaving skills, she was instead asked to be the threader and restore the Singer's Robe. The Singer's Robe had been annually repaired by her mother, but now Kira must completely restore it and prepare to sew the future of the community onto it.

When Kira's friend Matt undertakes a mission to find her blue, he returns with a man who turns out to be Kira's father. He reveals to her that there are no beasts and that he was attacked by a jealous man due to his impending promotion. Kira realizes the harsh truth about her home, that they are all prisoners. Nevertheless, she decides to stay so that she can transform what it will become.

Definitely an amazing book that I will always cherish the memory of!

"Gathering Blue" is a truly refreshing dystopian novel that captivates readers with its engrossing plot and well-rounded characters.

It presents a unique kind of dystopian society, one that is not as progressive and sophisticated as those typically described in many other dystopian books. In this work, Lois Lowry boldly strayed off the beaten path, which in turn made the book even more fascinating to read.

The novel is artistically written. Not only does the narration skillfully deal with various artistic issues throughout the story, but it also possesses outstanding artistic power that holds a strong grip on the reader.

While it may not be as great as "The Giver" (which is the first part of the trilogy), "Gathering Blue" is still a very good and enjoyable read. It may be a little bit weaker in some aspects, but it compensates with its own charm and engaging narrative. Overall, it offers a distinct and worthwhile dystopian experience.

I listened to the audiobook for this.

This is the second book in the The Giver series. While it may seem that it has nothing to do with the first one at first glance, in fact, it has everything to do with it. (People who have read this already would understand that, ha)

I was completely riveted from the very first chapter. We are introduced to a savage future world where the mighty prey on the weak, and cast out the undesirables to the wild where they are to be slaughtered by the frightening beasts in the woods. Kira is our main character. She was born with a deformed leg but was saved by her mother at birth. Society wanted to throw her away and have her be killed, but her mother insisted that she be saved. Now, her mother has died and Kira is alone in a frightening world where she is broken. Despite her physical handicap, Kira has a special talent for weaving. This talent will soon put her in a position of great importance in this strange society.

I felt The Giver was perfection. This one wasn't quite as perfect, but it was pretty darn close. The story is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the world-building is amazing. It makes you think about the nature of society, the value of life, and the power of hope. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction or thought-provoking literature.

I truly relished this Book #2 of The Giver series.

It contains a touch of mystery, a dash of drama, and a hint of sweetness, all seamlessly integrated within the pages of this single book.

The story weaves a web of intrigue that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the secrets that lie within.

And just when you think you have it all figured out, the ending throws in a curveball, leaving the reader with a burning desire to reach for the next book, Messenger, to find out what unfolds next.

I simply can't wait to embark on the next adventure and discover the continuation of this captivating tale.

As a sequel, this book is horribly disappointing. It fails to live up to the expectations set by the first one. The characters from book 1 that I was hoping to see again in book 2 are barely even hinted at. It feels more like a companion novel than a true sequel.

As a standalone, it is mildly interesting. We follow Kira, a young teen with a magical artistic gift. However, she is hindered by a birth defect that causes lameness in one leg. Her society is cruel, stupid, and evil, treating women as little more than breeding stock and homemakers. Kira's fate seems sealed until the council of elders swoop in to save her. But as she begins to settle into her new life, she realizes that perhaps she wasn't rescued at all.
This book was a bit frustrating. It didn't have the same magic as book 1, and I found myself getting annoyed with the main character's obliviousness. Maybe it's because I'm older this time, but the plot twists seemed painfully obvious. Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that I would highly recommend.
The audiobook was extremely well read by Katherine Borowitz, which made it a pleasure to listen to. Hats off to her for a great performance.

The Finer Books Club 2018 Reading Challenge - A book with a color in the title

Audiobook Comments
Extremely well read - a pleasure to listen to. Hats off to the narrator - Katherine Borowitz.

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I didn't like it. It wasn't even good at the beginning.

2.5
This short statement expresses a negative sentiment towards something. Perhaps it was a book, a movie, or an experience. The person didn't have a positive initial impression and felt that it didn't meet their expectations.

Maybe they were hoping for something more engaging, exciting, or well-executed. However, based on their assessment, it seems that it fell short.

It could be that the story didn't grip them, the acting was subpar, or the overall quality was lacking.

Without further details, it's difficult to determine exactly what went wrong. But it's clear that the person didn't have a favorable opinion and was disappointed with the outcome.

At the age of 63, I've had the pleasure of reading "The Giver" and now, "Gathering Blue." I continue to be deeply impressed by Lois Lowry's work.

I have a penchant for authors who can take simple elements and craft a complex and engaging story. In "Gathering Blue," there's no elaborate historical backdrop nor convoluted web of personalities. It's a story that adults can truly appreciate, and I can't help but wonder how different it would have been to read this when I was 12. (Of course, at that time, this story hadn't even been written.)

Once again, the story is set in a society that is simpler than ours, or at least not as technologically advanced. It's a harsher society, yet not completely devoid of emotion, so it's not a heavy-handed "dystopia." In fact, in many ways, it feels eerily similar to our own. If you've read "The Giver," the ending of "Gathering Blue" offers an interesting contrast.

If you approach this book without having read "The Giver," the genre might seem unclear at first. Is it science fiction, fantasy, or just a drama set in the future, or perhaps the past, or even on a different planet entirely? In "Gathering Blue," it becomes evident for the first time that it's a drama set in the future, on the planet Earth that we know. It's not a Middle-Earth-like land created out of thin air. This is clear from the "poetry" on page 171, "Ravaged all, Bogo tabal, Timore toron, Totoo now gone." But there are also fantasy elements, just like in "The Giver." In this case, it's a piece of cloth that seems to convey danger or reassurance. Or perhaps I'm reading too much into the plot? I appreciate this kind of ambiguity in a story.

Finally, there's the idea that pain gives strength, which is layered on top of another concept, that cooperation compensates for weakness. I don't particularly like this world of backyard chickens in an uncaring environment, but I'm heartened by the thought that human beings can rediscover compassion within themselves.

"Finding Blue" - Lois Lowry

"Finding Blue" is the next part of the very famous book "The Giver". However, I think that this book is not really a continuation because in terms of content, it is completely a different story, only similar in the background that takes place in a different world where the operating rules there are not the same as our world (this book belongs to the Dystopia genre).

Personally, I rate this book as not having the attraction as "The Giver". Right from the beginning, the book does not arouse interest in the reader. The plot is easy to predict, the idea is okay but the implementation is not reasonable, slow, not many highlights, only a little climax but that climax can also be easily imagined by the reader in advance. After reading it, I feel that there is nothing left, and this theme also does not leave much impression and meaning.

However, with simple language, easy to read, and the sentences or the native accents of the characters are all translated in the same way, this book may be suitable for students from elementary school to grade 2 because I feel that the author is writing in a style tending towards fairy tales. I don't have much to say about this book. I hope that the next two books of this series will be different.